Sri Lanka
- System of government
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05
Unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic
System of government-References:
- Total population
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 20,277,597
Total population-References:
- Total area (in square kilo meters)
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 65,610 km2
Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:
- Number of registered voters
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 15,044,490
Number of registered voters-References:
- Number of registered political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30
| **Eligible by number of seats won | |
| - Sri Lanka Freedom Party | |
| - United National Front | |
| - Tamil National Alliance (TNA) | |
| - Democratic National Alliance | |
Number of registered political parties-References:
- Number of polling stations
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Average number of voters per polling station
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting age
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 18
Voting age-References:
- Elected Offices
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Election system
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 List Proportional Representation
Election system-References:
- Terms of office
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 The President is elected through a contingent vote system to serve a 6-year term.
In the Parliament 225 members are elected by open list proportional representation in multi-member constituencies to serve 6-year terms
Terms of office-References:
- Election
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2015
Election-References:
- Date
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 17 August 2015
Date-References:
- Political parties in the elections
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Number of elected candidates
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voter turnout
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 74%
Voter turnout-References:
- Number of ballots cast
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 11,684,111
Number of ballots cast-References:
- Legal framework for elections
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Part of Constitution
Separate legislation
Legal framework for elections-References:
- Legal provisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-08 Constitution, Art. 83, 85, 86: The Referendum Act of 1981:
Legal provisions-References:
- Referenda
- Last Updated : 2016-11-08 Constitution, Art. 83, 85: The Referendum Act of 1981:
Referenda-References:
- People’s Initiatives
- Last Updated : 2016-11-25 N/A
People’s Initiatives-References:
- Recall Votes
- Last Updated : 2016-11-25 N/A
Recall Votes-References:
- Official name
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Department of Elections, Sri Lanka
Official name -References:
- Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Mixed
Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)-References:
- EMB budget source
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 The legislature
EMB budget source-References:
- EMB expenditure audit
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 The legislature
EMB expenditure audit-References:
- Number of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 1 - 10 members
Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Term of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 For a specified number of years
Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Who appoints members (commissioners)?
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Head of State - Head of Government - Judiciary
Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:
- Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Presidential/ Prime Minister appointment
Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson-References:
- Administrative divisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-08
divided into 9 provinces, which are further subdivided into 25 districts
Administrative divisions -References:
- Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-08
The Delimitation Commission shall divide Sri Lanka into not less than twenty and not more than twenty-five
Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:
- Criteria for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries
Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:
- Body responsible for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Boundary Commission
Body responsible for drawing boundaries-References:
- Requirements on the right to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the right to vote revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral Eligibility
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the eligibility revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Requirements for party registration
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01 Deposit requirement
Requirements for party registration-References:
- Candidate nomination
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01
independent candidates can compete in both presidential and legislative elections
Candidate nomination-References:
- Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01
- Requirement
Age
Citizenship
Residence
Candidate Registration (National Assembly members) -References:
- Candidate registration deposit
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Amount of fee
- Return of fee
- Uncontested Election
- Last Updated : 2016-12-05 N/A
Uncontested Election -References:
- Preparation of the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-11-08 A continuous register (voter data is continuously collected and d between electoral events)
Preparation of the voters list-References:
- Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01 No
Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)-References:
- Who is responsible for the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01 Election Management Body
Who is responsible for the voters list -References:
- Voters list preparation procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Inspection and objection procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Definition
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Prohibited forms of campaigning
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Who is not permitted to campaign
- Campaign Finance
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Campaign expense limit
- Income and expenditure of campaign expense
- Report, public inspection, and open of income and expenditure
- Investigation on income and expenditure of campaign expense & actions
- Reimbursement of campaign expense
- Presiding officers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① How many of officers in a polling station
② Roles of each officer
③ How we nominate the officers
- Facilities or items a polling station is equipped with
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Polling station location criteria
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting hours
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Is compulsory or voluntary?
② How many ballot papers are distributed to each voter?
- Ballot Paper
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Determination of the order of candidates on ballots
② What has to be included in the ballot paper?
③ Ballot paper design or sample ballot paper
④ Valid and invalid ballot paper
- Voting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Start ofvoting
- Process of voting
- End of voting
- Marking method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Special voting (Absentee / Early / Proxy / Assisted / Postal / etc)
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Who are subjected to do
② Voting procedures
- Counting Location
- Last Updated : 2016-11-08 The polling stations
Counting Location-References:
- Counting period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Vote counting method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Start of counting
- Process of counting
- End of counting
- When are ballots recounted?
- Last Updated : 2016-11-08 By request
When are ballots recounted?-References:
- Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?
- Last Updated : 2016-11-08 Outside the country voting is not permitted
Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?-References:
- Overseas voters list preparation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Where to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting procedure for early voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods used to transport ballot papers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- How is the elected candidate chosen in the case of a tie?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Apportioning of National Assembly seats
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Results Announcement
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Is the announcement of preliminary result required?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Deadline for announcement of final results
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reason for holding a by- or re-election
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- By-election dates
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral process
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01 In the allocation of broadcasting time to any recognized political party or independent group which makes an application in that behalf, the Director-General of Broadcasting shall ensure that each party or group shall be permitted to use (a) in the case of radio broadcasting, a total period not exceeding forty-five minutes which may be used on one occasion or on not more than three occasions and each such occasion shall not exceed fifteen minutes ; (b) in the case of television broadcasting, a total period not exceeding forty-five minutes which may be used on one occasion or on not more than three occasions and each such occasion shall not exceed fifteen minutes. The order in which each recognized political party or independent group shall use the broadcasting facilities shall be determined (a) in the first instance by agreement among such parties and groups ; or (b) in the absence of such agreement by lots cast or drawn in such manner as the Director-General of Broadcasting may, in his absolute discretion, determine
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:
- Television debates
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01 presidential elections, legislative elections
Television debates-References:
- Blackout period for release of election survey results
- Last Updated : 2016-12-05 N/A
Blackout period for release of election survey results-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution body
- Last Updated : 2016-11-08
Judiciary - EMB
Electoral dispute resolution body-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-11-25
108. (1) Every electionpetition shall be presented within presentation twenty-one days of the date ofpublication of the result of the election in the Gazette: Prohibition ofdisclosure of vote.
Provided that an election petition questioning the return or the election upon the ground of a corrupt orillegal practice and specifically alleging a payment of money or other act tohave been made Or done since the date aforesaid by the member whose election isquestioned or by an agent of the member or with the privity of the member inpursuance or in furtherance of such corrupt or illeal practice may, so far as respects such corrupt or illegal practice, be presented at any time within twenty-eight days after the date of such payment or act
Electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 N/A
Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Direct public funding
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01
The law provides for state financial assistance to registered political parties that have polled at least one per cent of the valid votes in an electoral district in the previous elections.
Direct public funding-References:
- Private funding of political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01
The election law provides for two of the state broadcasters to allocate airtime to political parties. The time-slots outlined are 30, 60 and 90 minutes over the campaign period, depending on the party's number of candidates
Private funding of political parties-References:
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01 Sanctions include Deregistration of party
Regulation, monitoring and investigation-References:
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01
EMB
Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies-References:
- Which electoral processes are using ICTs?
- Last Updated : 2016-11-01
N/A
Which electoral processes are using ICTs? -References:
- When it was introduced
- Last Updated : 2016-12-05 N/A
When it was introduced-References:
- Gender equality
- Last Updated : 2016-11-25 Female Population: 9,822,597 (2005)
· Is Sri Lanka a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)
· Has Sri Lanka ratified CEDAW: Yes (5 October 1981)
· Gender Quota: No
· Female candidates in this election: No
· Number of Female Parliamentarians: 11 (following the 2004 elections)
· Human Development Index Position: 73 (2014)
· Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)
Gender equality-References:
- Aids for disabled or handicapped voters
- Last Updated : 2016-11-25 Is Sri Lanka a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)
· Has Sri Lanka ratified CRPD: Yes (8 February 2016)
· Population with a disability: 3,009 716 (est.)
Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:
- Voter education
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Election time only
Voter education-References:
- National civic education
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 conducted by NGOs/ Civic Organizations - conducted by Political Parties/ Candidates
National civic education-References:
- EMB Staff education
- Last Updated : 2016-12-05 N/A
EMB Staff education-References:
- Domestic observation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International observation
- Last Updated : 2016-11-25 Sri Lanka conducted their fifth Presidential Election on November 17, 2005. AAEA was invited by Commissioner of Elections Dissanayake to send an observation team.
International observation-References:
- Partnerships/MoUs
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International Activities
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Major challenges to elections
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Measures taken to deal with those Challenges
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03